KUALA LUMPUR: Several lawmakers have expressed concern over the government's decision allowing two sugar refineries, currently selling price-controlled conventional granulated sugar to also sell Refined White Sugar Jernih (also known as pure refined white sugar) that is non price-controlled.

Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) questioned whether this could result in manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers conspiring to seemingly make it as if the controlled sugar products were always out of stock.

"This forces the rakyat to purchase the more expensive option.

"The Domestic and Cost of Living Ministry must explain the monitoring mechanism used for this," he told the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (June 13) when debating Domestic and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub’s explanation on the matter.

In a statement on May 25, Salahuddin said prices for Refined White Sugar Jernih would be determined by the market.

"The government agrees to this application because Refined White Sugar Jernih will give consumers a choice other than white sugar (both coarse and fine)," said Salahuddin.

He also cautioned the two sugar players involved, MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd and Central Sugars Refinery Sdn Bhd (CSR), to ensure the market had adequate supplies of conventional granulated sugar, whether coarse or fine-grained.

Cha, who is the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (Domestic Trade, Entrepreneurship, Cost of Living and Agriculture) chairman, also proposed for the ministry to resume its Ops Manis operation to be extended for a certain period of time.

Salahuddin previously said the Ops Manis operation would be conducted nationwide and carried out until June 30 to ensure sufficient sugar supplies.

Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) hoped the ministry would continue monitoring the supply of price-controlled sugar to ensure they were always in stock.

He also questioned whether there was a difference in quality between the price controlled and non-price controlled sugars.

"At the same time, is the introduction of the non-price controlled sugar products the first step the government is taking towards ending price control on sugar?" he asked.

Azli Yusof (PH-Shah Alam) meanwhile asked whether the government was considering formulating a sugar usage per capita index.

"There should be a balance between having sufficient sugar supplies and steps to preserve public health," he said.